A Guide to Fall Activities in Germany for German Learners
Fall is a particularly beautiful season in Germany. Between the storybook like homes and buildings to the colorful trees, Germany is breath taking as the days begin to wane. If you ever wanted to visit Germany in the fall, autumn is one of many reasons to make it your destination.
Not only is the country gorgeous, there are a lot of wonderful celebrations. Some of the celebrations and festivals are fairly well-known, and many of them revolve around harvesting. This is why they are so well-known fall activities in Germany– these celebrations are centuries old.
Here are some of the ways Germans enjoy the time when the days get shorter and the temperatures cooler. There are even a few places where you can go if you are in Europe during the autumn.
It's also a great opportunity to chat with native German speakers. The weather is a popular topic, but an entire season - especially one as fun as fall - has a lot to cover. This is a season where you can practice the langauge and keep learning German in a more organic way.
You don't even have to go to Germany to really appreciate the activities. You can do a lot of these things near your own home, then talk about it the next time you have class or a chance to converse in German.
Erntedankfest – The German Speakers Thanksgiving
Many nations have their own version of Thanksgiving, and the celebrations in Europe go back a long way. The one in Germany is called Erntedankfest, and it goes back to when the Roman Empire still existed – all the way back to the 3rd century. It was a way of thanking their gods for the bountiful harvest.
In Switzerland, the holiday occurs during the middle of September. There are different times to celebrate in different regions, so the holiday isn’t nearly so settled – just like Thanksgiving in many other places.
The way they celebrate it should actually be familiar because a lot of places make Thanksgiving a specific day of the week, not a specific day of the month. In most place in Germany, it is always the first Sunday in October.
While it is comparable to the American Thanksgiving, the way it is celebrated is entirely different. It’s a bit more like a harvest fest mixed with Halloween. They have corn mazes for people to explore and other activities related to harvesting.
The celebration often includes a church service, which harkens back to the early days when people were expressing gratitude to a higher being. Many places have parades and fairs to enjoy the day.
The experience is different in cities compared to more rural areas. If you are in a German speaking country in fall, check to see when the regions have this festival and see if you can join one for a different kind of Thanksgiving.
Der Tag der Deutschen Einheit – Day of German Unity
Der Tag der Deutschen Einheit is an entirely unique holiday that celebrates an event people over 40 likely remember today – it’s the day of German Unification. Following World War II, Germany was split into east and west. The eastern side was controlled by the Soviet Union, while the west was controlled largely by western European nations (primarily the UK and France, although the US did have some influence).
The City of Berlin was also split into eastern and western sections. This was literally represented by a large wall that was called the Berlin Wall.
The lines were drawn rather arbitrarily, splitting families based along political lines that they couldn’t control. For over four decades, they could not see relatives who lived on the other side because of the Cold War.
In 1989, the Berlin Wall fell, and the two sides of Germany were reunited.
On October 3 every year, the country celebrates this momentous day.
Martinsumzug – Saint Martin’s Day or Martinmas
This holiday comes from the Middle Ages and celebrates Saint Martin of Tours. The celebration has been called many things, including Old Halloween. It’s not like Halloween today, and it is celebrated on November 11, not on October 31.
Martinsumzug is a celebration that marks the transition from fall to winter. Winter may not technically start until December, but the weather in November is certainly much more wintery in many regions.
Some places have feasts, with goose being a primary food. Other places have parades or light festivals. Bonfires are very popular, and in the past ashes from the bonfires were spread on fields to help fertilize the fields for next year’s crops.
Other light festivals include paper lanterns that children can carry while singing about St. Martin. There are even some regions where gifts are exchanged, similar to Christmas. They even have a tradition of hanging stockings for gifts.
Like many fall festivals, how it is celebrated depends on where you are. Different countries have their own ways to celebrate, and the different regions of Germany also have their own traditions.
Fun Fall Activities in Germany
Most people think about drinking and Lederhosen as the epitome of German celebration and activities. However, they have a lot of things that they enjoy doing outside beyond the obvious traditions.
What’s even better is that a lot of it is great for getting children engaged and having fun as the days get cooler and the outdoors more colorful.
You don’t have to wait for any specific day to have a lot of fun.
Die Drachen - The Kites!
One wholesome, entertaining, and child-friendly activity is flying kites. They have a lot of kites, and this is a time when you can go out, enjoy the cool breeze, beautiful colors, and clean air.
There are so many different types of kites, from traditional diamonds to dragons and animals to complicated cubes. Just getting out and running around can give you a lot of amusement for a low cost. There’s just something relaxing and satisfying about watching a kite moving hypnotically in the breeze.
Pilze und Kastanien sammeln - Collecting Mushrooms and Chestnuts
This activity is more unique to the region since you probably don’t do this where you live. However, it is something that a large number of Germans do, and adults today have fantastic memories of collecting mushrooms and chestnuts.
This is like an extension of harvesting, but it is something that nearly anyone can do without owning a farm or having crops. It has the added benefit of providing you with fresh food that you can enjoy. Chestnuts also make great parts for making toys to keep kids entertained.
Wandern - Hiking
One of the best things to do during the fall is to get out and hike. All over German speaking countries, there are great places to go to get out doors and get some healthy exercise.
Whether you want to hike around a lake, an artificial pond, or the Black Forest, you have a lot of options. You can even ask some locals about the best places to hike in a specific area.
Getting Ready for Your Own Fall Celebration as a German Learner
Fall is a very festive season in Germany, so there is a lot for you to enjoy. If you love the outdoors, it’s really a lot of fun. It’s like so many of the great outdoor activities of spring without all of the pollen – and you still get a lot of colors.
As the days continue to get darker, you have the big holidays to look forward to – and just like in the fall there is a series of festivals, December has a wealth of celebrations. It starts with Christmas events and goes into the New Year with plenty to celebrate and enjoy.